Properties of acrylamide gels cross-linked with low concentrations of N,N'-diallyltartardiamide.

The behavior of proteins on acrylamide gels cross-linked with low concentrations of N,N'-diallyltartardiamide (DATD) has been studied from a theoretical and practical point of view. Modifications in methodology and a technique for calculation of apparent molecular weights (MWs) allowed accurate determinations on gels from 7 up to 15% acrylamide. Comparison of viral protein patterns obtained with DATD- or N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide-cross-linked gels indicated greater resolution by DATD gels, particularly in the higher MW range. The polymerization reaction was studied kinetically and found to be efficient so long as the ratio of DATD to acrylamide was low. High resolution of DATD gels was attributed to the spontaneous formation of a gradient over much of the gel that retarded diffusion of the protein bands.